Step-ladder.



Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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0. A. MELANG.

STEP LADDER.

APPLlcATloN FILED Aus. 1, 1916.

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0. A. MELANG. STEP LADDER. APPLICATION FILED Aus. I, Iam.

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oLE ANnEEAs MELANG, or sEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

patented, Mar. 2o, fait.

Application filed August 1,1916. Serial No. 112,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLE ANDREAS ME- LANG, a subject of the King of Norway, (who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States,) and resident of Seattle, county of King, State of Washington, Vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ladders, and more particularly to step ladders, and consists of certain improvementsr in their construction whereby they may be folded into compact forni for shipment, storage, or for any other purpose- My invention comprises the novel features of construction and the combinations of parts, which are herein illustrated and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings are given as illustrating my invention and as showing the particular form of construction which is now most preferred by me.

Figure l1 is a front view of the ladder with the parts in the position which they would occupy when in use.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the ladder with the parts in like position.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the ladder with the parts in folded position.

Fig. 4 is a side face view of the ladder with the parts in folded position.

Fig. 5 is a section taken through one of the side bars just above-a step, the adjacent end of the step being also shown.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the lower or locking end of one of the diagonal braces for the rear legs.

Each of the side bars of the ladder is composed of two strips, these strips, 11 and 12, as herein illustrated, vbeing of like width and are placed in the same plane with edges in contact when the ladder is in raised position or position for use. These two strips are secured together in such manner that they may be given a slight movement lengthwise with relation to each other. The preferred manner of doing this is to connect them by a set of links 13, which links are pivoted to eachI of the bars or strips 11 and 12, and preferably extend parallel to the position occupied by the steps.

The two compound side bars represented as a whole by 1 and 10, are each composed 'bar 1 at one side of the ladder is, however,

slightly different in one respect from the bar 10, forming the other side bar of the lad- I der. The stepsB are pivoted upon each side bar by pivot axes which extend transversely and in the plane of the steps, at each end thereof. The preferred construction for this is shown in detail in Fig. 5.

The step 3 has a 4thin metal plate 30 se cured to its end and binding thereto a pivot pin 31, which is of suchlength as to extend a short distance beyond the sides of the steps. to one `of the side bars, the saine being the one herein indicated by the reference character 1, is of a fixed character, in this respect, that there is no shifting of the point of pivotal connection with either of the strips 11 and 12, which constitute this side bar. The pivotal connection of the steps with the other side bar 10 differs from this, in that the end ofthe steps may also have a limited sliding' movement upward along the side bar.

Each of the side bars is provided with a flange binding strip 2, herein shown as of thin metal made in L-shape, the short arm or base of the L, 20, being spaced inward from the inner face of the strips 11 and 12, and projecting toward the center of the bar. Between these anges and the bars, the pivot pins or projecting tips 31, extend. 1n the side bar 1 of the ladder', spacing strips 2l are placedbeneath the flange 20 and fill all the space existing between the pivot pins 31, whereby this end of the steps can have no sliding movement lengthwise of the side bars.

The construction emloyed in connection with the other side bar 10 is similar to this, except that the spacing blocks 21 employed, are shorter, their lower ends stopping at a point, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 1, some distance above the step below., This is necessitated only in case where the lower steps are longer than those above. Such construction permits the pivots at this end of the step sliding upward when the ladder is folded. Without a sliding connection of the side bars at one end, the proper folding of the ladder could not be secured, unless the steps were all of the same length. In any event, the pivot connection of the upper The 4pivotal connection of the stepsI `f the face of the side bars.

most step with this side bar 10, should be fixed in position, as this step would be the shortest and there is no need to provide for any sliding movement of the pivot.

The rear legs 4 are shown as pivoted at 40 to the uppermost connecting links 13. rlhey are also shown as being provided with a metal plate 41 for the reception of the pivot. Brace rods 5 are pivoted at 50 to the legs 4, and are provided with means for attachably engaging the opposite rear leg 4. Such means may consist of a notch 51, out into one edge, which is adapted to it over a pin or nail carried by the lower portion of the braces 4.

In folding, the legs 5 are detached at their lower ends from the legs 4 and placed parallel therewith. The two portions l1 and 12, of each of the side bars are shifted until the steps lie in planes perpendicular to the length of the ladder, and the two side bars are then folded down toward each other.

By pivoting the steps to the side bars and so constructing the side bars that the plane 0i' the step relative to the length of the ladder may be shifted, as is done by shifting the two bars 11 and 12, the pivots may be brought into position, suoli that the steps will fold down parallel with and against By having one end of all those steps below the uppermost, so connected with the side bars that the steps may have a limited sliding movement relative to this side bar, the variations in length of steps may be compensated, so as to obtain a close folding action of the steps against the side bar.

What I claim as my invention, is:

1. A ladder having side bars each composed of a i'ront and a rear strip, means connecting the strips of each bar to permit relative longitudinal shifting, and steps pivotally connected by their four corners directly with said strips with the aXes of pivots extending transversely of the steps.

2. A ladder having side bars, each composed of two bars lying alongside of each other, means connecting said bars to permit limited longitudinal shifting, steps, pivots iixedly connecting one end of the steps to the strips composing one side bar, the other side bar having sets of slots, one set in each strip and facing toward each other, and the corresponding ends of the steps having pivot projections entering said slots, whereby this end of the steps may slide upwardly upon the side bar when folding the ladder.

A ladder having side bars, each composed of two strips lying alongside each other, a step retaining strip extending along the outer edge of the inner face of the strip composing the side bars, spacing blocks interposed between said step retaining strip and the side bars to separate lthe two, and steps having side projecting pivot pins at each end adapted to fit beneath said retaining strips.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 26th day of July, 1916.

OLE ANDREAS MELANG- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

